If you were asked, ‘Do you love yourself’, for many the answer will be ‘yes’. But how many of you often lay awake in bed at night feeling low, depressed, sad, stressed? And how many of you have thoughts such as “I want to be loved and accepted more” or “I am not worthy enough” or “I wish to have a life like xyz” and so on?
Then let me tell you my dear ones, you are far from truly loving yourself. What if I told you that your idea of love is actually conditional?
For example, do you tend to love and accept yourself only if you are successful in achieving something or if someone appreciates you after you lose weight? We are indeed our worst critics and yet, we want others to love and accept us the way we are. Otherwise, we find faults with them as well.
To begin with, you have to accept yourself for who you are inside out. Be aware that you are unique and there is not a single person on this planet who is exactly like you. Stop comparing yourself to others as each one of us experiences unique situations according to the choices that we have made in this life.
The true power lies within us, not outside us. It’s all about what you think of yourself rather than what others think of you. Many people have low self-esteem because they are always waiting for external approval. They are always willing to please everyone but themselves.
Others’ opinion is not the ultimate truth, it’s only coming from their own perception. You can truly start living when you give up the idea of perfection and stop being so hard on yourself. Some of the people who might look perfect to you, like movie stars and celebrities may be dealing with huge insecurities and depression.
So it is time to change your perception. Learn to love and accept your flaws as much as you accept your assets. The darkness is as important as the light. Embrace it because that is where your real power lies.
Before you love another person, you have to realise that love cannot flow through you if you don’t feel it for yourself. That is the reason why most people feel empty in relationships today. Would you ever ask a needy person for food or money? Of course not. This also applies to love. You have to have enough love for yourself before you give it to another person.
The more you start accepting and loving yourself truly, the more open you become to appreciating others around you and vice versa.
Pause, take a minute and think — isn’t it an overwhelming feeling to be alive? There are million souls waiting to be born. The real purpose of life is to truly love and live. But are we truly living or simply existing?
The key is to keep the inner child alive, be more playful and laugh more, even when things look difficult. Don’t take life so seriously. Be the change you want to see in this world. Are you ready?
Tips for inner transformation
- Every morning be grateful and say, “I love my life” and embrace it. With a knowledge that ‘today’ is a beautiful day, something good will come your way.
- Look in the mirror and say “I love you”. Focus on your assets. Say, “I love my eyes” or “my dimples” etc. Never ever criticise yourself.
- See yourself as a child who is completely open to giving love and receiving love. Tuning into the inner child allows you to accept yourself without judgment.
- Stop comparing yourself to others and be aware that no one is perfect. Take pride in yourself. Remember that you are special and unique.
- Pay less attention to what others think of you and focus more on uplifting positive thoughts. At the end of the day, the only person who has to live with you is yourself.
- Keep away from bad company. Learn to protect yourself by keeping away from bad company and influence, even if they are your childhood friends or relatives. You have to start taking responsibility for a better life.
- Keep away from Facebook and Internet as it only makes you feel inferior and inadequate. It may lead to feelings like, “I feel fat”, “my nose is big”, “I wish I was fairer”, and so on. Surround yourself with optimistic people who love you. Talk to them and be there for them genuinely rather than wasting time on neverending selfies that only invite fake compliments.
- It is high time you stop fooling yourself and start living the real life.
